Planning a trip to Amsterdam add the below stops to your list:
Breakfast Spot to Check Out:
De Carrousel Pannenkoeken Breakfast spot specializing in the famous HUGE Dutch pancakes inside an old carousel. Cheap, quick and bonus across from Heineken.
- Other Places for Breakfast/Brunch:
- Staring at Jacobs
- Hendrix
- Ted’s – All day brunch for those breakfast lovers
- Bakers & Roasters
Where to Snack All Day:
Fabel Friet is a super popular Dutch fries spot and line is long but 100% worth the wait.
Where to Snack All Day:
Winkel 43 has this infamous Dutch Apple Pie that is literally the size of my head. Its a much less sweet version of an American Apple Pie, and enough to fill an entire meal.
Where to Snack All Day:
van Wonderen Stroopwafels will give you all your Stroopwafel influencer dreams. Expensive but if you want something cheaper and fresher and just as good get one from one of the stalls at Albert Cuyp Market.
- Other Places to Snack All Day:
- Van Stapele Koekmakerij – only sell one type of cookie with long lines but worth it
- Ibericus Amsterdam – Delicious ham sandwiches
- Manneken Pis Damrak – Fries, need I say more?
- Kaasbar – Cheese on a conveyor belt
- Vlemickx Sausmeesters – More delicious fries
- Febo – Check out this fast food spot if in need of something quick but also unique as the food comes vending machine style.
Cheese Shop to Check Out:
Bourgondisch on Haarlemmerstraat is a wonderful local cheese shop that even offers pairing classes. Avoid the chain cheese shops all over central Amsterdam and come here instead.
Where to Get Canal Drinks:
Koffiehuis ‘De Hoek’ sits in the De 9 Straatjes neighborhood with tables right along the canal for perfect people watching.
Where to Eat Dinner
Gangnam Chicken, delicious Korean street food eatery away from the hustle and bustle of the center.
- Other Places to Eat Dinner
- Moeders – If you want to experince some traditional Dutch cuisine.
- Eethuis Sinbad – If you want some delicious Middle-eastern street food
- Cafe Loetje – Nice outdoor patio known for their Steak
- Cannibale Royale – If meat is your thing, look no further. A couple outposts throughout the city to choose from too.
- Ron Gastrobar – If you are looking to splurge and get otuside from the city center, this is the perfect place for some good food.
- Gebr Hartering – Another spot if your looking to splurge for dinner, this one comes multi course so plenty of food to eat. Highly suggest reserving in advance a table.
- Morgan & Mees – Not far from the Anne Frank Museum, plan a trip there then dinner at this French restaurant after. This is also a hotel.
- Hotel de Goudfazant – Looking for a unique spot to dine in, what about a converted garage with ping pong. You’ll have to cross the river to get to this spot though.
- Toscanini – If you are looking for a taste of Italy in Amsterdam, check out this dinner spoot.
- Kantjil & de Tijer – Indonesian food is big in Amsterdam and this place should certainly be on your list of places to try some good Indonesian food in the city.
Things to Do in Amsterdam
Canal Tour – One thing that is a must do in Amsterdam is a Canal tour. They offer them both during the day and night tours some with Open Bar packages. There are also covered boat tours as well for those bad weather or cold days.
Heineken Brewery – Hard to avoid Heineken in this city so one of the best ways to experience it is through a brewery tour. A very interactive tour with free beer at the end this fun to do even for someone who does not like Heineken.
Bike Rental – The main form of transportation in the city is via bike. So make sure to rent yourself a bike and just get lost riding around the cities streets, canals and parks.
Albert Cuypstraat – Check out this street market that is blocks long with lots of local food and shopping stalls. If you want to avoid the prices of the insta-worthy food locations in the city, this is the perfect place to try good food at a reasonable price.
- Museums (there are plenty to choose from):
- Anne Frank Museum – A must visit but just make sure to book tickets well in advance as they sell out quickly.
- Art Museums:
- Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
- Van Gogh Museum
- Moco Museum
- Rijksmuseum
- Rembrandt House Museum
- There are so many unqiue museums here too from Torture museums to Electronic Dance Music museums, there are plenty to choose from.
- AMAZE – A light show and technology museum that puts on quite the show for your eyes with interactive exhibits. Small but fun. Book your tickets ahead of time.
- A’Dam Lookout – If you want to go super touristy check out this lookout on the other side of the river. It has views overlooking the city, swings that go over the edge of the building, sky bar, VR. You name it, it has it for you.
- Vondelpark – Amsterdams famous city park, perfect for riding your bike around or going for a nice stroll. Plenty of areas to check out with water features, grassy nooks, restaurants. A nice break from the city.
- De 9 Straatjes – If shopping is your area this is the neighborhood to do it in. Lots of local shops, restaurants and places to check out.
- If you want to checkout the Tulips in the spring, they do day bus tours out of the city.
- If Windmills are your thing, take a short train ride out of the city or do a bus tour up to Zaanse Schans. These famous windmills are large and clustered together right along the river in the center of town so easy to check out and spend some time in the local town center.
- Getting from the Airport to the City:
- The best and fastest way I find to get right to the city center is to take the train. They have a direct train from the airport straight to Amsterdam Central which drops you off in the heart of the city. There are machines to get your tickets from and if you are not fluent in Dutch, do not worry they make it easy to choose another language. They also still have a ticket counter open if you more comortable talking to some one to guide you. No need to take any buses or taxis. Read more here.
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